The Arizona sentinel., 1887-03-12
ADVICE TO GIRLS.
The Necessity and Benefit of
 Abundant Exercise.
How to Avoid at Thirty the Sofa, a Shawl, Neuralgia and Neryes-What May Be Accomplished by Proper
 Training.

"The natural destination of women over thirty" says MT. William Blakie, in an article relating to physical cult ure, ''is the sofa, a shawl, and neu- ralgia !" Surely a most discouraging prospect to the gentle sex. And yet, it is largely their own fault, for our girls neglect too frequently the exer- else which would banish the latent weakness that hastens their arrival at the destination so graphically described by Mir. Blalzie. In our own city we find clear demonstration of the theory of physical degeneration" men who should be our ideals of strength and beauty are small and of almost effem- mate physique. Girls who should be able to walk several miles without fatique are completely overcome and good for nothing the remainder of the day if they walk many squares. And so it is-the whole race is becoming puny and feeble from lack of systematic eX- ercise, upon which depends so much of their happiness. particularly of the girls, since they see across the ''Rubi- con" the sofa and a shawl, neuralgia and nerves, headaches and temper.
 Miss Bertha von Hillern is a notable example of what it is possible for a woman to accomplish by training. Devoted and successful artist as she is, her physical culture is not deemed second to her artistic, and a portion of each day is given up to this need of her nature. And while it is a need of all natures, it becomes pre-eminently so to those who give it its rightful consider alton. Not only does the material comfort depend upon regular, moder- ate exercise, but the mental growth and development as well. It stands to reason that vigorous health influences the mental conditions, and that the man or woman who is constitutionally the most robust will be capable of a great CT amount of intellectual labor. Look at Gladstone as an illustration of the power of the body upon the mind. AL though an old man, he still walks six miles every morning before breakfast ing. The result is a clear, active brain and a well-preserved structure, such as man half a century younger might well envy him. He attributes his activity to the physical culture, which has never been neglected during the whole of his remarkable career. And there is no doubt that if the men and women of the present would emulate his example there would be fewer pigmies in the world. Julian Hawthorne, who is an athlete mentally and physically, shows his opinion of the necessity of regular exercise for women in the training of his own little daughter, who, although but eleven years of age, can walk mile in seven minutes easily. Imagine what glorious specimen of womanhood she will bel No shawls or nerves for her, thanks to her father s superior intelligence.
 Strength should be woman's pride no less than a mans. Exercise alone will develop it, and at the same time impart that symmetrical beauty of form which characterized the ''god- like Greeks" It has been too long neg lected in our schools, as the pale faces of the children will testify Few chil- dren really take any beneficial exercise while in school. The hour, or half ho,,. fo,. ,.aoroo+;on in +bo ,,,;d11o of the day is passed in studying the les sons for the afternoon session or in walking up and down the warm rooms and halls. This is partly due to the fact that few of the schools have yards sufficiently large to accommodate them in any pleasant pastime. This is to be regretted, as it is at this period of a person life that physical training should be doing its work. The intro duction of calisthenic exercises in the schools several years ago was the first step in the right direction, and gave the children taste for physical cult ure, which was before unknown to them. Unfortunately, they must go through the various movements and drills in the school-room, and so can not inhale the pure oxygen, which is the most essential part of the benefit. The fashionable craze for lawn-tennis goes to prove that our girls are becom- ing aware of their deficiency in the matter of out-of-door sports, and the enthusiasm which has been developed in them for this graceful and healthful game shows that they are not behind this age of progression. And we can but feel proud to know that we have lately started in Baltimore physical culture class for girls, in connection with the Hopkins University, or rrather